Meek Mill's Prison Sentence For Parole Violation Will Not Be Reconsidered

Meek Mill's request to reduce his prison sentence has been rejected by a judge who refused to recuse herself over allegations of bias against the rapper.

Common Pleas Court Judge Genece E. Brinkleyof Philadelphia said Monday that the rapper's two-to-four-year sentence for parole violation was "absolutely necessary," according to court documents cited by Rolling Stone.

Brinkely said that Mill, who was born Robert Rihmeek Williams, knew the repercussions of probation violation following a 2008 conviction for gun and drug charges. He violated his probation when he was arrested twice in 2017. In March of that year, he was arrested for fighting at a St. Louis airport, and in August, he was busted for driving recklessly through New York City on his dirt bike. The airport charge was dropped and the rapper took a deal to dismiss the dirt bike case.

"[The] defendant received proper notice of all alleged probation violations in advance of his hearing," Brinkley wrote in court documents. "The sentence imposed was not manifestly excessive and this Court stated sufficient reasons on the record to support a state sentence of 2 to 4 years."

Meek's probation officer and the assistant district attorney have both objected to the November sentence, as did Jay-Z, who oversees the rapper's management company, Roc Nation.

"The sentence handed down by the Judge – against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer – is unjust and heavy handed,” Jay-Z wrote previously on Facebook. "We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career."

In light of Brinkley's ruling, Meek's lawyer alleged that the judge had a "personal vendetta" against his client. Attorney Joe Tacopina noted that even the governor of Pennsylvania wanted Meek to receive a reduced sentence. Meek's team alleged, according to TMZ, that the judge tried to get the rapper to sign with a friend of hers and asked him to record a version of Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee."

"In spite of the recommendations from the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, which was supported by Governor Tom Wolf, the judge continues to stand alone in supporting Officer Reginald Graham's perjured testimony as well as his criminal behavior that has been documented," Tacopina told TMZ.

The judge deemed allegations of bias, including Meek's assertion that the judge inserted herself into his professional life, meritless.

“The court has repeatedly told defendant that he cannot demand special treatment just because he has chosen to be an entertainer,” she wrote in court documents, according to Philly.com. She added that she "has no personal interest in any of [Mill]’s professional and business matters.”

Meek Mill and his team have filed multiple motions as part of the #FreeMeek campaign. In March, we shared that Mill had a good chance of being released due to an unjust conviction, because a cop allegedly lied at his 2008 trial. The D.A. filed documents saying there's a "strong showing of likelihood" that the rapper's conviction will be reversed due to a larger police corruption scandal in Philadelphia, TMZ reported. Prosecutors say that hundreds of previous convictions have already been overturned.

A post-conviction hearing is slated April 16.

[Photo: Getty Images]

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